Biden’s Age Stirs Controversy at Turkey Pardon Ceremony
Age Risk Predicted in Next Year’s Election
Trump Pulls Ahead
Camp Divided Over Rest and Response
On his 81st birthday (local time), U.S. President Joe Biden again faced controversy over his age, which ered a significant weakness in his re-election bid. The issue arose when he confused the names of famous pop singers during a joke about his age.
The White House hosted its Thanksgiving ceremony on the South Lawn.
Biden’s Pop Star Mix-Up Highlights Age-Related Challenges
President Biden said, “Just to get here (White House), Liberty and Bell had to beat some tough odds and competition,” and added, “You could say it’s even harder than getting a ticket to the Renaissance tour or, or Britney’s tour.” He continued, “She’s down. It’s kinda warm in Brazil right now.”
It appears he confused Taylor Swift, who recently performed in Brazil, with pop star Britney Spears. Britney is currently not on tour, and the Renaissance Tour is pop star Beyoncé’s concert tour.
Before the attendees sang him a birthday song, President Biden joked, “I just want you to know it’s difficult turning 60.” He continued, “This is the 76th anniversary of this event — and I want you to know I wasn’t there for the first one,” eliciting laughter from the audience.
Origins and Significance of the Turkey Pardoning Ceremony
The turkey pardoning ceremony originated in 1947 when the National Turkey Federation gifted a turkey to then-President Harry Truman. There was a tradition of families gathering to eat roast turkey on Thanksgiving (November 23). The tradition of releasing pardoned turkeys on a children’s farm started in 1963 when President John F. Kennedy said, “Let it live.”
President Biden pardoned the two turkeys named “Liberty” and “Bell,” saying that people would “gain a new appreciation of the phrase ‘let freedom ring.'”
Growing Concerns About Biden’s Age
Concerns about Biden’s age, which ered his biggest risk in next year’s election, are growing again.
President Biden trails former President Donald Trump, his likely opponent in next year’s U.S. election, in major opinion polls, and his age appears to be the reason. In a poll conducted earlier this month by The New York Times and Siena College in six battleground states, 71% of respondents said Biden is too old to be president. Even 51% of Biden’s supporters agreed with this statement in the poll. In an August poll by the Associated Press, 77% said, “Biden is too old to continue serving as president.”
Amid these circumstances, President Biden mistakenly referred to the Iraq War in June when speaking about the Ukraine War. He also tripped on a sandbag at an Air Force Academy graduation ceremony.
President Biden’s frequent verbal gaffes and falls are fueling age-related risks. His ‘low-key’ birthday behavior on this day is also believed to be related to the controversy over his age.
Camp Divided Over Rest and Response
Within the camp, they are divided between giving him more rest time and emphasizing his presidential experience. The New York Times (NYT) reported that some in the Biden camp suggest giving him more rest time and reducing his exhausting overseas travel schedule, a strategy referred to as the ‘bubble wrap strategy,’ meaning to protect him from falling until next year’s election.
On the other hand, some argue that his experience and wisdom that come with age should be emphasized more. Democratic strategist Simon Rosenberg told the NYT, “Biden succeeded because of his age,” and added, “It would be a political mistake not to respond more actively to the age issue.”
By. Kang Dong Ho
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